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XXVII. An Afternoon at the Stone House
‘takeupthepiecesandthrowthemaway,’asifitwasn’thergrandmother’sbowlfromEngland.Oh,sheisn’twellandIfeelawfulbadaboutit.She’sgotnobodytolookafterherbutme.”
CharlottatheFourth’seyesbrimmedupwithtears.Annepattedthelittlebrownpawholdingthecrackedpinkcupsympathetically.
“IthinkMissLavendarneedsachange,Charlotta.Shestaysherealonetoomuch.Can’tweinducehertogoawayforalittletrip?”
Charlottashookherhead,withitsrampantbows,disconsolately.
“Idon’tthinkso,MissShirley,ma’am.MissLavendarhatesvisiting.She’sonlygotthreerelationssheevervisitsandshesaysshejustgoestoseethemasafamilyduty.Lasttimewhenshecomehomeshesaidshewasn’tgoingtovisitforfamilydutynomore.‘I’vecomehomeinlovewithloneliness,Charlotta,’shesaystome,‘andIneverwanttostrayfrommyownvineandfigtreeagain.Myrelationstrysohardtomakeanoldladyofmeandithasabadeffectonme.’Justlikethat,MissShirley,ma’am.‘Ithasaverybadeffectonme.’SoIdon’tthinkitwoulddoanygoodtocoaxhertogovisiting.”
“Wemustseewhatcanbedone,”saidAnnedecidedly,assheputthelastpossibleberryinherpinkcup.“JustassoonasIhavemyvacationI’llcomethroughandspendawholeweekwithyou.We’llhaveapicniceverydayandpretendallsortsofinterestingthings,andseeifwecan’tcheerMissLavendarup.”
“Thatwillbetheverything,MissShirley,ma’am,”exclaimedCharlottatheFourthinrapture.
